Data recording and displaying device



Jan 19, 1932. a. L. HINMAN 1,341,950

DATA REQORDING AND DISPLAYING DEVICE Filed May 4, 1951 mmvroza.

A TT ORNE Y Patented Jan. 19, 1932 srres serum Pris,

GEORGE L. HINMAN, OF NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGN! MEETS, TO BA. ES IMANUFACTURING COMPANY,

OF \VEST ORANGE, NEW

JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY DATA anoonnnve AND DISPLAYING DEVICE Application filed May 4,

The present invention relates to devices data and also for operation to display and render available any recorded or inscribed data. While capable of many other applications, my invention is particularly adapted for embodiment in mechanical directories and listingdevices designed to receive and display a large number of names or other items, and in some aspects is an improvement on the construction described and claimed in Patent No. 1,548,019, granted August 4:, 1925 to S. M. Babson and H. Hollerith.

A device of this type usually comprises a pair of r llers or spools rotatably mounted in spaced parallel relation within a casing having a sight opening in its top at a point intermediate the rollers, a long flexible strip bearing or adapted to receive desired data and respectively secured at its ends to said rollers or'spools, and means for actuating the rollers or spools to thereby move said strip in either direction past said sight opening. The actuating means, which maybe manuallyoperable, usually includes suitable accelerating mechanism so that the flexible strip may be moved rapidly in either direction to thereby enable any desired portion of the strip to be quickly brought to a given exhibiting or reading position as, for example, into registry with the sight opening in said casing.

One of the main objects of my invention is to provide in a device or" the character described, an improved construction and 7 arrangement whereby a data bearing or receiving strip of any desired length whatever up to the full capacity of the spools, may be'readily and very quickly transferred from either spool to the other with minimum of efiort and friction,

Another object of invention is to provide improved means for actuating the spools or rollers to thereby move the flexible datastrip in either direction, such means preferably including accelerating mechanism whereby the strip may be transferred with great speed from either spool to the other and 1931. Serial No. 534,904.

' scribed and claimed.

, In order that my invention be more clearly understood attention is directed to the drawings which accompanies and forms part of this specification, and in which Figure 1 is a plan View, partly broken away, of a preferred form of device in accordance with my invention.

Figure 2 is a view in side elevation, partly broken away, of the device shown in Figure 1, and

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmental detailed view in front elevation, partly in secion, showing the spool-s or rollers and data strip and the actuating means therefor.

The device shown in the drawings and chosen as illustrative of a preferred embodiment of my invention, is of the same general type as that shown and described in the Babson and Hollerith Patent No. 1,548,019 hereinbefore referred to, but is designed to ac commodate a data carrying or receiving strip of much greater length, or in other words, is of greater capacity. This device comprises a casing 1 which is substantially rectangular and the removable top 2 of which consists of a short rear horizontal portion 3 and a longer inclined forward portion 4 provided with a rectangular sight opening 5. The data carrying or receiving member is in the form of a long flexible strip or web. 6 and has its ends respectively secured to a pair of spools or rollers 7 and 8 which are suitably journaled in the opposite side walls of casing 1 in spaced parallel relation. The spools are disposed within the casing adjacent the top and ends of the latter so that as the strip is wound from either spool onto the other the portion thereof extending between the spools will be beneath and closely adjacent the inclined portion 4 of the top of the casing. It is apparent that a portion of the strip (3 will thus always be ex osed or exhibited at the sight opening 5. T e strip may be formed of linen, paper or other suitable flexible material adapted for carrying or receiving data. A backing plate 9 is mounted within casing 1 beneath strip 6 and. directly'opposite sight opening 5, and is preferably removably supported in this position by means not shown.

It is apparent that actuation of the spools 7 and 8 in one direction or the other will etl'eft a corresponding feed or travel of strip 6 beneath the inclined portion 4 of the top 2 of cas' 1 and past the sight opening 5. The means or actuating the spools while simple in construction and extremely eflicient in operation, enables any part or the whole of a data strip of any length up to the full capacity of the spools, to be very rapidly moved in either direction past the sight opening 5, with the expenditure of a minimum of time and efi'ort so as to bring any desired portion of the Stri in registry with said opening, and also enables the movement of the strip to be almost immediately arrested or reversed in (lirection at will. it may be noted, by way of example, that it is entirely feasible with my improved construction and arrangement to employ a data strip having a length of 30 feet or more in a device comparable in size to one which when embodying the construction disclosed in the Babson and Hollerith Patent No. 1,548,019, is capable of accommodating a strip having a maximum length of only 6 to 8 feet. In attaining the desired results driven elements preferably in the form of rather small ur gears 10 and 11 of equal size, are respectively secured to the spools or rollers 7 and 8 adjacent one end thereof so as to be substantially in alignment and close to the inner surface of one side wall 12 of casing 1. Adapted to coact with the elements 10 and 11, isan actuatin member or gear 13 rotatably mounted on the inner portion of a support in the form of a horizontal stud 14 which is mounted in and projects through a short horizontally extending slot 15 provided in the Wall 12 substantially midway between the axes of spools 7 and 8 and somewhat below the plane thereof. The gear 13 is preferably considerably greater in diameter than the driven gears 10 and 11 and is maintained in such position on stud 14 as to be substantially in alignment with the driven gears so as to be adapted to coact therewith, as will presently appear. Secured to the actuating gear 13 so as to rotate therewith on stud 14. is a small gear 16 which is disposed between gear 13 and the adjacent Wall 12 of casing l and which meshes with a larger gear 17. The latter gear is mounted for rotation about a fixed axis. being secured to the inner end of a short shaft or stud 18 which extends through and is journaled in a bearing 19 provided in the casing Wall 12 at a point which is preferably substantially vertically below the center of the slot 14. A manually operable member in the form of a knurled knob 20 is secured to the outer end of stud 16. Any appreciable longitudinal movement of stud 18 is prevented by the coaction of the hub of knob 20 with the bearing 19. and of gear 17 with wall 12. The stud 14 is bodily movable in a horizontal direction lengthwise of slot 15. but as the diameter of the stud is only slightly less than the width of said slot, appreciable vertical movement of the stud is prevented. Substantial. movement of stud 14 and of gears 13 and 16 mounted thereon, in the direction of the axis of said stud, is also prevented by the collars 21 and 22 which are respectively secured to the outer end of the stud adjacent the casing wall 12 and to the stud inwardly of and adjacent gear 13.

The construction and arrangement are such that when stud 14 occupies a position substantially midway between the ends of slot 15, as shown in Figure 2, the large actuating gear 13 is out of engagement with both of the spool gears 10 and 11, that is, it is in a neutral intermediate position with respect to said spool gears, and the spools are adapted to rotate freely with respect to the actuating means described. The said actuating means is then in inoperative relation to the spools. Stud 14 is biased to this position, preferably by means of a stretched or tensioned coil spring 23 having one end secured to the inner end of the stud and its other end secured to a lug 24 provided on the bottom of casing 1 at a point which is substantially in vertical alignment with and below the center of slot 15.

While the spring 23 constantly tends to maintain the actuating gear 13 in neutral position out of engagement with both of the spool gears 10 and 11, it is apparent that the turning of knob 20 in one direction or the other will not only efl'ect rotation of gear 13 through the enmeshed gears 17 and 16. but the latter gears will then also coact to move stud 14 toward one end or the other of slot 15 against the action of spring 23 and thereby bring said gear 13 into driving engagement with one or the other of said spoolgears. Referring to Figure 2, if the knob is turned in a counterclockwise direction gear 13 will be moved to the left into driving engagement with spool gear 11, to thereby efi'ect rotation of the latter and spool 8 in a counter-clockwise direction and the transfor of more or less of strip 6 from spool 7 down past sight opening 5 to spool 8: while if the knob is turned in a clockwise direction gear 13 will be moved to the right into driving engagement with spool gear 10. to thereby efl'ect rotation of the latter in a clockwise direction and the transfer of more or less of 6 from spool 8 up past opening 5 to spool 7. When either spool is thus driven the other, of course, runs or spins free as its driven gear is then not engaged with the actuating gear. The gears 17 16 and 13 constitute accelerating mechanism whereby a comparatively slow rotary movement imparted to the driving member or knob 20 will result in the rotation of the spools and the transfer of the strip from one. spool to the other at a high speed. Upon the cessation of actuation imparted by the operator to knob 20, spring 23 will immediately act to return actuating gear 13 to its neutral position and both spools 7 and 8 will then spin or run free without the retarding efllect or triction which would otherwise result by reason of the engagement of one spool gear or the other with the actuating gear; The spring 23 will then alsoact to prevent movement of the actuating gear from engagement with one spool gear past its neutral position into engagement with the other spool gear, which would not only result in considerable noise due to the clashing of gears but would also tend to decrease the speed and interfere with the smooth action of the device. With the construction described, a few quick actuations imparted to k110i) 20 in the same direction and at short intervals will result in a very rapid movement of spools 7 and 8 and strip 6 and if desired, the transfer of practically the entire strip irom one spool to the other in a very short time. It is also obvious strip that when strip 6 is being transferred from.

one spool to the other, no-matter how rapidly, the movement thereof may be either arrested or reversed almost instantly at any time merely by turning the knob 20 in one direction or the other.

In order to readily determine approximately the particular section or portion of strip 6 opposite sight opening 5 at any time, regardless of the speed at which the strip may then be moving, said strip may beprovided with an indicator line 2-5 and a scale or index 26 adapted to coact with said line may be provided adjacent one of the transversely extending edges of the opening, in accordance with the disclosure in the Babson and Hollerith patent hereinbefore referred I to.

It is to be understood that the construction shown and specifically described herein is merely illustrative, and is subject-to various changes and modifications without departure from the spirit or my invention or the scope of the appended claims.

Having now described my invention which I claim as new and desire to protect by the Letters Patent, is as follows:

1. In a device of the character described, a pair of rotatably mounted spaced spools adapted to wind and unwind a flexible strip, and actuating means operable to drive said spools to move said strip in either direction, said-means being biased to inoperative rela tion with respect to said spools.

2. In a device of the character described, a pair of rotatably mounted spaced spools adapted to wind and unwind a flexible strip, driven elements respectively connected to said spools, and means operable to actuate said spools to move the strip in either direction comprising a rotatable actuating member mounted for movement into engagement with either one of said elements, said actuating member being biased to inoperative position with respect to both of said elements.

3. In a device of the character described, apair of rotatably mounted spaced spools adapted to wind and unwind a flexible strip, and means operable to drive said spools to move the strip in either direction comprising a rotatable actuating member mounted for movement into operative relation with either one of said spools, said actuating memher being biased to inoperative relation with respect to both of said spools.

4c. In a device of the character described, a pair of rotatably mounted spaced spools adapted to wind and unwind a flexible strip in either direction, driven gears respectively connected to the spools, and means adapted to cooperate with said gears to drive said spools comprising a rotatable actuating gear mounted for movement in opposite directions into and out of engagement with the driven gears respectively, said actuating gear being biased to a neutral or intermediate position in which it is disengaged from both the driven gears.

5. In a device of the character described, a pair of spaced spools mounted for rotation about fixed axesand adapted to wind and unwind a flexible strip in either direction, driven gears respectively connected to said spools at one end of the latter, a rotatable actuating member mounted for movement in opposite directions for engagement with one or the other of the driven gears, and a spring fixed at one end and connected at its other end to said actuating gear constantly tending to hold the latter in an intermediate or neutral position out of engagement with both of said driven gears.

6. In a device of the character described, a pair of rotatably mounted spaced spools adapted to wind and unwind a flexible strip, and means operable to drive said spools to move the strip in either direction comprising and means operable to drive said spools to move the strip in either direction comprising a rotatable actuating member mounted for movement into operative relation with either of said spools and biased to inoperative relation with respect to both spools, a manually operable driving member mounted for rotation about a fixed axis, and accelerating mechanism connecting said members.

8. In a device of the character described, a pair of rotatably mounted spaced spools, adapted to wind and unwind a flexible strip, driven elements respectively connected to said spools and means operable to actuate said spools to move the strip in either direction comprising a rotatable actuating member mounted for movement into engagement with either one of said elements and biased to inoperative position with respect to both said elements, a manually operable driving member, and accelerating mechanism connecting said members.

9. In a device of the character described, a pair of rotatably mounted spools adapted to wind and unwind a flexible strip, driven gears respectively connected to said spools, and means operable to actuate said spools to move the strip in either direction comprising a rtatable actuating gear mounted for movement in opposite directions into and out of engagement with said driven gears respectively and biased to a neutral position in which it is disengaged from both of the driven gears, a manually operable driving member, and accelerating mechanism connecting said member and actuating gear.

10. In a device of the character described, a pair of rotatably mounted spools adapted to wind and unwind a flexible strip, driven gears respectively connected to said spools, and means operable to actuate said spools to move the strip in either direction comprising a rotatable actuating gear mounted for movement in opposite directions into and out of engagement with said driven gears respectively and biased to a neutral position in which it is disengaged from both of the driven gears, a manually operable driving member mounted for rotation about a fixed axis, and accelerating mechanism connecting said member and actuating gear.

11. In a device of the character described, a pair of rotatably mounted spaced spools adapted to wind and unwind a flexible strip, and means operable to drive said spools to move the strip in either direction comprising a manually operable driving member and means for operatively connecting said member and spools including a rotatable actuating member mounted for movement into operative relation with either of said spools and biased to inoperative relation with respect to both spools, said connecting means comprising accelerating mechanism.

12. In a device of the character described,

a pair of rotatably mounted spaced spools adapted to wind and unwind a flexible strip, and means operable to drive said spools to move the strip in either direction comprising a manually operable driving member mounted for rotation about a fixed axis and means for operatively connecting said member and spools including a rotatable actuating member mounted for movement into operative relation with either of said spools and biased to inoperative relation with respect to both spools, said connecting means comprising accelerating mechanism.

13. In a device of the character described, a pair of rotatably mounted spaced spools adapted to wind and unwind a flexible strip, driven elements respectively connected to said spools, a rotatable actuating member, a support on which said actuating member is carried, said support being mounted for movement in opposite directions to engage the actuating member with one or the other of said driven elements dependent upon the direction in which the support is moved, and spring means coacting with said support and constantly tending to maintain the same in a position in which said actuating member is disengaged from both of said driven elements.

14. In a device of the character described, a pair of rotatably mounted spaced spools adapted to wind and unwindia flexible strip. driven gears respectively connected to said spools, a rotatable actuating gear, a support on which said actuating gear is carried. said support being mounted for movement in opposite directions to engage the actuating gear with one or the other of said driven gears dependent upon the direction in which the sup ort is moved, spring means constantly ten ing to maintain said support in a neutral position in which said actuating gear is disengaged from both of said driven gears, a manually operable driving member mounted for rotation about a fixed axis, and a pair of gears which are constantly in mesh and which are respectively secured to said actuating gear and said driving member.

15. In a device of the character described. a pair of rotatably mounted spaced spools adapted to wind and unwind a flexible strip, driven gears respectively connected to said spools, a rotatable actuating gear, a support on which said actuating gear is carried. said support being mounted for movement in opposite directions to engage the actuating gear with one or the other of said driven gears dependent upon the direction in which the support is moved. spring means constantly tending to maintain said support in a neutral position in which said actuating gear is disengaged from both said driven gears. 11 manually operable driving membcr mounted for rotation about a fixed axis, and a pair of gears which are constantly in mesh and which are respectively secured to said actuating gear and said driving member,said actuating gear being of greater diameter than said driven gears, and the gear secured to the driving member being of greater diameter than the gear secured to the actuating gear.

16. In a device of the character described, a casing having a sight opening in a Wall thereof, a pair or" spools rotatably mounted in said casing adapted to Wind and unwind a flexible strip and thereby efiect movement of the strip past said opening, driven gears respectively connected to said spools, a stud mounted for movement lengthwise of a slot provided in a Wall of said casing, a rotatable actuating gear carried by said stud and adapted to engage with one or the other of said driven gears dependent upon the direction in Which the stud is moved in said slot, a spring secured at one end to a fixed point of the casing and at its other end to said stud and constantly tending to maintain the stud in a position intermediate the ends of said slot and in Which said actuating gear is disengaged from both or" said driven gears, a manually operable driving member journaled' in a Wall of said casing, and a pair of constantly enmeshed gears respectively secured to said actuating gear and said driving gear.

ihis specification signed this twenty-ninth day of April, 1931.

GEORGE L. HINMAN. 

